Irrigation and drainage pump



July 10, 1951 F. P. MORGAN IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE PUMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1946 ATTORNEYS.

y 10, 1951 F. P. MORGAN 2,559,785

IRRIGATION ANDDRAINAGE PUMP Filed March 9, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS,

u y 1951 F. P. MORGAN 2,559,785

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE PUMP Filed March 9, 1946 INVENTOR 4s f 10.. M M

ATTORNEYS,

l atentecl July 10, 195 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE PUMP Fred P. Morgan, Delray Beach, Fla.

Application March 9, 1946, Serial No. 653,374

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pumps, and more particularly to pumps intended primarily for irriation and like purposes, where large quantities of water are lifted through relatively low heads, and has for an object to provide an improved construction of a pump of this type, including a rotor with impeller blades which are so arranged as to secure a combined lifting and centrifugal action.

It is also an object to provide an improved and simplified. construction which may be assembled from metal plates welded together, obviating the necessity of making expensive dies or patterns, reducing the machining operations to a minimum, .and facilitating the manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation and partial section of one form of my improved pump;

, Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of one half of the pump taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the impeller or rotor wheel used in the form of Figs. 1 and'2;

:Fig. 4 is a side elevation or edge view thereof looking'toward the bottom of Fig-3;

- Fig. 5 is a side elevation or edge view of a por tion of the rotor wheel and looking toward the edge of one of the impeller blades;

- Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the rotor wheel and one of the impeller blades;

Fig. '7 is a partial side elevation and partial section "showing a somewhat modified arrangement;

::;=-F'ig. Sis a section through one side wall of the iinpeller blade of Fig. '7, immediately in front of one of the impeller blades;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation ofthe of the type of Fig. 7 and -FigJlO is a bottom plan view of the rotor wheel of Fig. 9.

'Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, this improved pump comprises a housing I made up of upper and lower sections 2 and 3, the upper-secrotor wheel tral cone 9, and the side walls of this cone are steeper than the side walls of the housing so that flow of the water. secured to a vertical central tube or pipe Ill forming a housing for the impeller shaft I I. At

the lower end of this impeller shaft housing is a bronze bushing I2 forming a lower bearing for the shaft I I, and the housing is threaded, as indi-, cated at I 3, for a packing nut I4, suitable packing I5 being provided between the lower end of the housing and the bottom of the cavity in the nut to prevent water entering the shaft housing. The

cone 9 may be secured to the shaft housing ID:

by welding to it at its upper end It and to a transverse circular plate I? welded tothe inside; Some lockf of the cone and to the housing I0. ing means may be provided to prevent the nut I i from loosening up, such, for example, 'as a plate or lug I8 welded to the bottom of the plate' I l and an arm I9 engaging this plate and welded:

to the nut.

Mounted below the cone 9 and within the lower section 3 of the housing I is an impeller or rotor wheel 20. disc or circular plate 2I and a lower flat ring or annular plate 22 spaced below the top plate ordisc and with its outer diameter greater than the, diameter of the plate 2!, so that its outer edge or periphery '23 is located beyond the outer edge or periphery 24 of the upper disc. Between these two plates of the impeller or rotor wheel are se,-. cured a plurality of impeller blades 25, which may be secured to the plates by any suitable means.

but preferably by welding to these plates at their upper and lower edges respectively. As the top plate 2| is smaller than the bottom plate or ring 22, the impeller blades 25 extend outwardly be- 3 yond the edge of the plate 2I, and instead of betion 2'tapering upwardly and welded at its upper conduit, or to a trash guard or strainer (not corner 3| is substantially equal to the distance shown), through any suitable means, such as the bolts 8. -The larger lower end of the upper section, and theupper end of the lower section are welded together to form a continuous housing. Within .the housing and spaced from it is a cening vertical, these impeller blades are inclined upwardly in the opposite direction to the direc-] tion of rotation, so that the lower edge 26 is forward of the top or upper edge. They are also inclined to the axis of the impeller wheel, so that the inner edge 21 is forwardly of the outer edge. The blade is preferably arranged as shown in Fig. 3, where if a radial line 28 is drawn from the center or axis 29 of the wheel through the; outer upper corner 30 of the blade, then the inner upper corner 3! of the blade is located from the diagonal line, or the point 32 on the are 33 through the point 3|, a distance substantially equal to the amount the blade overlaps plate 2|," that is, the distance from the point 32 to the from the corner 30 to the point 32. The blade is also preferably inclined from the horizontal at an angle of about 45, as indicated at 34. These angles may vary somewhat,'and the angle 34 may This comprises an upper;

be decreased to about 30 if desired, but it is preferred to make it about 45.

Mounted in the housing I between .the walls of this housing and the cone .l is aplurality oi vertical baflie plates or fins 35. Any desired number of these fins may be used, but four equally spaced has been found to be very satisfactory. The baflles or fins are vertical and extend be tween the cone 9 and the housing l and eaeh is welded at its opposite edges to the cone and the housing. They extend from the loWerseC- tion 3 of the housing to the top of thecone ,9, but at its lower edge each plate is inclined; as indicated at 36, Fig. 1, which is about the inclination of the outer edge 3'! of the impeller blades 25, or that is, in the present case, at about 45, as indicated by angle a, so that as the rotor wheel rotates the outer edges of the impeller blades pass closely adjacent these inclined edges 36 of the vertical fins 35, there being, of course, suificient clearance between them to permit free movement or the impeller blades. The lower end portions, however, of the vertical bafiles or this 35 are inclined, as indicated at 38, Fig. 1', preferably at an angle of about 45, and in a direction oppositeto the direction of the inclination of the impeller blades 25 to form water breaks, and this lower end portion of the fin runs into the vertical portion through a curved portion 39, so as not to give a sharp turn to the direction of water flow. This arrangement reduces turbulence and eddy "currents which would interfere with the free flow of water.

It will be seen from this arrangement that as the impeller or rotor wheelfrotates clockwise as you look down "on the top of it, 'or in the direction 'of the arrows 40, water will enter through the opening 41 in the center of the lower ring 2"? and will be picked up by the impeller blades 2 5 a nd due to the fact these blades are inclined baekwardly fromtheir direction 'of movement, and also to the faet that they extend outwardly beyond the rim 2 4 of the upper plate 21, 'the was is both lifted by the inclination or the blades and thrown outwardly or radially by centrifugal action. That is, this arrangement of the blades, with the different 'diame'tersef the upper and lower. plates '2 l and 22, produces a combination lift and centrifugal action on the water, so thatthese inclined blades both lift the water as well as force it out by centrifu'galfaction around the edge of the top platezi andbetweeh this plate and the housing through the tapered or V-sha'ped opening indicated byfthe line 42 of Fig. 1. The f diameters are made, such, and also thetap'ers of the housing 1,. so that the width (if this passage 42 issubstantially the same as the width of the outlet passage 43 between the edges of theupperand lower plates 2i and '22 of the, impeller or rotor wheel. H :In old constructions the top or upper plate was extended out to the same diameter asithe lower plate, and the impeller blades were arranged vertically or at right angles to the plate, sothat all the water was carried out to the outer diameter of the'lower 'plate in these'prior. constructions and flowed out of the rotor horizontally, and then turned atright angles around the outer edge of the top plate. In my improve'd'co'ristructi onthe outer housing l needs to be carried only abeut half as far beyond the outerjedge of the lower plateor ring, the water does nothave to flow around .a 9Q "or right angle, and instead hf relying wholly on "centrifugal "actiongas 'in the prior construction, with'my improvesseneei 4 secure a combined lift and centrifugal action on the water, which flows around a much smaller angle, thus providing a two-fold aetion of the impeller blades on the water and permit ting a more direct and freer flow of the water, with less turbulence and therefore much less loss of power, with resultant greater capacity with the expenditure of less power.

the water. leaves the outer edges of the impeller blades 25 between the top and bottom plates 2! and 22, it is picked up by the lower inclined portion or water break 38 of each fin 35 (which, as described above, is inclined in the op posite direction to the inclination of the impeller blade) and is directed by this inclined portion of the fin 35 through the passages between the cone 9 and the housing I. It is preferred that the number of impeller blades 25 be different from the number of the water breaks 38 and fins 35. Thus, in the example shown there are four of the fins or water breaks 35 and only three of the impeller blades 25 in the rotor wheel. This is so that there will not be more than one impeller blade in alignment with the inclined water break 38 at the same time. The device is not limited to the number given, as for example the numbers could be 5 and 4, or 3 and 2. I15 there were the same number of impeller blades as water breaks or fins in the housing, they would all be in alignment at the same time, ivhih might require a great increase of power at that particular part of the revolution of the impeller wheel. i

The impeller or rotor wheel is mounted on the lower end of the drive shaft l I and for this purpose a central hub M may be welded to theunder side of the top plate 2! and provided with a cen' V tral tapered opening 45 to receive the similarly tapered lower end of the shaft/and be keyed to it, and furthermore'secured on the shaft by any suitable means, such as the nut He. The shaft may be driven by any suitable means above the outlet from the conduit '5 (not shown) such, for example, as a pulley belt'from'the 'drivingei'igine (also not shown). A vertical diagonal plate 58 may be mounted in the water inlet below the rotor wheel and also extend through the opening in the lower ring '22 to prevent the water whirling or rotating under action of the rotor wheel before it enters this wheel and thus reduce the grip of the impeller blades 25 on the water. v

In the form of device "shown in Figs. '7 'to "10, instead of having the upper and lower plates of the rotor wheel fiat, or horizontal, as shdwn in Figs. 1 to 6, they are inclined, .prcferably'at an angle of about 45. Thus, in 'theform shown in Figs. '7 to 10 the upperplat'e 46 isdi'shed so that its side walls 41 are inclined atan angle of about l-5. The lower plate or'ring '48 is"als0 inclined at about 45, and spaced outwardly from it to form a fiow passage for the watenalso at an angle of about 45, into the passage "4'9 in the housing 50 between this housing "and the central cone '5], corresponding to the housing I and cone '9 in the first form. The impeller blades 52 corresponding "to the blades 25 of the first form are similarly inclined and'arrange'd as the blades in the first form and atabout'the same angles, and it willbe seen that, "as inth'e first form, the forward lower edge 5315f ea'chhf theseimpeller blades'projects outwardly beyond the outer rim 54 'o'f'the upper plate"'or'wall'of the rotor, and the blade is inclined in 'the s'ahie manner, the samecdmbination of lift andb'fiinclined oppositely to the direction of inclina-- tion of the impeller blades 52, as indicated at El, and also at about the same angle as in the first form at 38. The principle and operation is the same as in the first form, except that the outer portion 4! of the upper plate and lower plate 48 of the impeller or rotor wheel are inclined at an angle of about 45, and the impeller blades 52 are mounted between these parallel inclined walls, but at about the same angles and arrangement as the blades 25 of the first form. However, due to this inclination of the upper and lower walls 47 and 48 or" the impeller, the water as it leaves the impeller does not have to flow through as great or as sharp an angle around the upper edge 54 of the top plate as it does in the first form, but flows directly into the passage 49 in the housing at a much smaller angle, still further reducing the turbulence and loss of power as the water leaves the impeller or rotor wheel. However, as above indicated, as the impeller blades 52 in this form are arranged in substantially the same manner and at substantially the same angles as the first form, these blades both lift the Water as well as force it outwardly by centrifugal action around the edge of the top plate 46 and we have a combined lift and centrifugal action. As in the first form, there is a vertical balile plate 58a mounted below the rotor and across the entrance to it to prevent the column of incoming water from rotating due to the action of the rotor.

It will be seen from the above that this gives a very simple and effective construction which may be made of metal plates welded together, doing away with the necessity of making dies and greatly reducing machining operations. Also, due to the relative arrangement of the various parts the impeller or rotor wheel has a combined lifting and centrifugal action on the water, greatly increasing the capacity for a given amount ofpower, and therefore increasing its effectiveriess and efiiciency.

While this pump was designed primarily for irrigation and drainage purposes, it will be understood it may be used in any location and for any purpose where this type of pump is applicable.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A pump of the character described comprising an upright housing, an upri ht impeller shaft in the housing, a cone within and spaced from the housing providing a water passage, a horizontal wheel mounted on the shaft below the cone comprising upper and lower spaced plates, the upper. plate being dished so that its outer peripheral portion is inclined upwardly and outwardly, the lower plate being in the form of an annular ring also inclined upwardly and outwardly substantially parallel tothe inclined portion of the upper plate and'of greater outer diameter thanthe upper plate, a series of impeller blades mounted to extend between the inclined portions of said plates, each blade being inclined'upwardly and backwardly to its direction of rotation so that its lower edge is forwardly of its upper edge, and each blade also inclined laterally so its inner edge is forwardly of its outer edge so that the blades have a combined lifting and centrifugal action on the water to force it through the in-. clined passage between the plates intothe passage in the housing, and an inlet passage to the housing below the wheel.

2. A pump of the character described comprising an upright housing, an upright impeller shaft in the housing, a cone within and spaced from,

the housing providing a water passage, upright radially extending fins in said passage, a horizontal wheel mounted on the shaft below the cone comprising upper and lower spaced plates, the

upper plate being dished so that its outer peripheral portion is inclined upwardly and outwardly, the lower plate being in the form of an annular ring also inclined upwardly and outwardly substantially parallel to the inclined portion of the upper plate and of greated outer diameter than the upper plate, a series of impeller blades mounted to extend between the inclined portions of said plates, each blade being inclined upwardly and backwardly to its direction of rotation so that its lower edge is forwardly of its upper edge, ,and each blade being also inclined laterally so its inner edge is forwardly of its outer edge so that the blades have a combined lifting and centrifugal action on the water to force it through the inclined passage between the plates into the passage in the housing and the lower end portions of the fins being located at the outer periphery of the wheel and inclined oppositely to the inclination of the impeller blades to form water breaks at the discharge side of the passage in the wheel, and an inlet passage to the housing below the wheel.

.3. A horizontal impeller wheel for rotary pumps comprising upper and lower spaced plates, the upper plate being dished so that its outer peripheral portion is inclined upwardly and outwardly, the lower plate being in the form of an annular ring also inclined upwardly and outwardly substantially parallel to the inclined portion of the upper plate and of greater diameter than the upper plate so as to extend outwardly beyond the outer edge of the upper plate, and

tion on the water to force it through the inclined passage between the plates. I

4. A pump of the character described comprising an upright housing, a central cone within and spaced from the housing to form a water discharge passage with a lower annular entrance to said passage, an impeller shaft in the housing, a horizontal rotor wheel mounted on the shaft at the-lower end of the cone comprising an upper'circular plate and a lower annular ring spaced from the plate and of larger outer diameter than the plate so that it extends outwardly beyond theouter edge of the top plate, impeller blades extending between the said plate and ring and each inclined upwardly and back wardly from its'direction of movement so that its lower edge is lforwardly of its upper edge, each blade being also inclined laterally so that its inner edge is located forwardly of its outer edge so that it imparts to the water a combined lift "and centrifugal action to force it around the tame plates extending radially in the discharge passage between the cone and housing immediately above the rotor wheel, said baffle plates being inclined at their lower end portions in the direction of movement of the impeller blades and substantially vertical above these portions.

5. A pump of the character described comprising an upright casing, an impeller shaft in the casing, a horizontal wheel -mounted on the shaft at the lower part of the casing comprising an upper plate and an annular ring spaced below the plate and of larger outside diameter than the'plate so as to extend beyond the rim of the plate, a series of substantially 'flat impeller blades mounted to extend between the plate and the ring, each blade being inclined to the .plate and ring so that it extends outwardly of the-plate and its lower edge is forwardly of its top'edg'e, and also inclined to a radius of the plate so that its inner edge is forwardly of its outer edge so that it has a combined lift and centrifugal action-on the water, radially extending bafiie plates immediately above the wheel and inclined upwardly and forwardly in the direction of movement of the blades from the outer edges thereof, and inlet and outlet passages to and from the casing below and above the wheel respectively.

6. 'A pump of the character described commising an upright casing, an impeller shaft in the casing, a horizontal wheel mounted on 'theshaft at the lower part of thecasing comprising an upper plate and anannular ring spaced below the plate and of larger outside diameter than the plate so as to extend beyond the rim of the plate, a series of substantially flat impeller blades mounted to extend between-the'plate and-ring, each blade being inclined to the plate and ring so that it extends outwardly of the plate and its lower edge is forwardly of its top edge. and

also inclined to a radius of the plate so that its inner edge is forwardly of its outer edge so that it'has a combined lift and centrifugal action on the water, and upright radially extending fins in the housing immediately above the wheel including lower end portions-extending upwardly from the outer edges of the blades forming water breaks-at the outer periphery of the wheel between -the plate and ring and inclined in the opposite direction to the inclination of the impeller blades, and inlet and outlet passagesxto andfrom the casing below and above the wheel respectively,

'7. A pump of the character described comprising an upright-housingan impellershaft the housing, a central cone within and spaced from the housing to form a water discharge passage with a lower annular entrance to said passage, a horizontal rotor wheel mounted 'on the shaft at the lower end of'the cone comprising an-upper circular plate and a lower annular ring-spaced from the plate and of larger outer diameterthan the plate so as to extend beyond the-outer edgeof the plate, a series of impellerblades mounted to extend between the plate and ring,eac h blade being inclined backwardly from its direction of movement with its inner edgelocated forwardly of its outer edge so that it imparts to the water a combined lift and centrifugal action to force it around the outer edge of the upper plate-into said passage, and upright radially extending fins in said passage extending radially between the cone and housing including lower end portions having lower inclined edges at the outer edges of the blades to provide water breaks in the .annular-entrance to said passage and substantially vertical upper end portions, and said lower end portions being inclined inthe direction of movement of the impeller blades.

-8. A pump of the character described comprising an upright housing including an inwardly tapered upper section and an outwardly tapered lower section secured at its upper end to the lower end of the first section, a cone within and spaced from the housing to form a water passage, a horizontal wheel at the lower end of the housing comprising substantially parallel spaced upper and lower plates, the lower plate being in the formof an annular ring of greater outer diameter than the upper plate, a series of substantially flat impeller blades mounted to extend between the plates and projecting outwardly beyond the upper plate, each of said blades being inclined to the horizontal so its lower edge is forwardly of its upper edge, each blade being also inclined to a radius of the wheel so that its inner edge is forwardly of its outer edge, said blades acting to force water between the plates into the lower section of the housing, upright fins extending radially in said passage between the cone and housing including a lower end portion inclined to the horizontal from its lower edge at the outer end of the blades in the opposite direction to that of the-blades to provide water breaks,

at the outer periphery of the wheel, an inlet passage to the-housing below the wheel, and a shaft supporting the wheel.

9. A pump of the character describedcomprising an upright housing, a cone within andspacedfrom the housing providing a water passage, 2. horizontal wheel below the cone comprising upper and lower spaced plates, the lower plate being in the form of an annular ring of greater outer, diameter than the upper plate, a series of sub-- stantially fiat impeller blades mounted to extend between the plates, each blade being inclined to the horizontal and backwardly from its direction of rotation so that its lower edge is forwardly of its upper edge, each blade being also inclined to a radius of the wheel so that its'inner edge is.

forwardly of its outer edge, a shaft supporting the wheel, and a series of upright fins extending radially in the passage between the cone andhousing and each including a lower end portion. at the outer periphery of the wheel inclined from the outer edges of the impeller blades to the horizontal oppositely to the direction of rotation of the blades to form a water break, and the number of blades of the wheel being different from the,

number of fins,and an inlet passage to the hous ing below the wheel.

FRED P. MORGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

